Card shuffler and dealer



Jan. 22, 1957 J. R. sTEPHENsoN 2,778,644

CARD SHUFF'LER AND DEALER Filed OCT.. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l SlI-IlI-ll-/////////////// A' """f" I 'Q mveNToR.

JAMES l R. S'I'MYI'ENSN-I BY www HIS ATTORNEYS Jan.. 22, 1957 J, R, STEPHENSQN 2,778,644

CARD SHUFFLER AND DEALER Filed Oct.. 5, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR EPIIEISNI HIS Y ATTORNEYS United States Patent CARD SHUFFLER AND DEALER James R. Stephenson, Dayton, Chio Application October 3, 1955, Serial No. 537,994

18 Claims. (Cl. 273-149) This invention relates to a card shuler and dealer.

This application is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 240,679, filed August 7, 1951, for Card Shuler and Dealer, now abandoned.

It is recognized that a large number of different types of card shufflers and/or dealers have been devised from time to time, but these have been either impractical or erratic in operation, too expensive, or have been otherwise objectionable. It is an object of this invention to provide a practical card shufer which may be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a card shuler in which the main parts may be made of molded plastic material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a card shuffler which may be set to deal either two, three, four, live or six hands.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a card shufer and dealer of the type which may be left on the playing table and used as a tray for the extra cards when playing Canasta and other games.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means for sequentially and individually removing cards from the deck.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing a card shufer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away, showing the construction of the gear shifting lever.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the device as shown in Figure 2, with several playing cards in the dealing pocket.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially within the arcuate line 6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, reference numeral 1l) generally designates a one-piece molded support or main frame, which for purposes of illustration has been shown circular in shape, whereas other shapes could be used, if desired. This main frame is provided with an integrally formed upstanding card stopping flange 12 and a centrally disposed circulary cavity or gear housing 14.

A rotatable platform 16 is pivotally supported on the main frame 12, as shown. This platform is provided with an integrally formed post or axle 18 which is journaled within the hub portion 20 formed asanintegral "ice part of the main frame or support 10, as best shown in Figure 2. A spring clip 22 holds the central post 18 in vassembled relationship on the support 10. The top surface of the platform 16 is provided with a plurality of card or deck positioning projections 24 which are so arranged as to form two card pockets arranged side by side for receiving and locating two piles of cards from a deck. This arrangement is convenient When playing certain card games as, for example, Canasta As best shown in Figure 3, the bottom surface of the platform 16 is provided with a rst pair of integrally formed bearing supports 26 in which a shaft 28 is journaled. A pair of friction wheels 30 and a pinion 32 are keyed to the shaft 28. The friction wheels or rollers Sil project through slots provided in the platform 16 at a point on the platform, so as to engage the lowermost card on the pile of cards located thereabove. Each of the friction wheels is preferably provided with a flat rubber tire-like portion 34 for engaging the cards during the card dispensing operation. Above each friction wheel there is provided a small roller 36 for holding the cards against the friction wheel 39. The rollers 36 preferably have smooth surfaces having the character of polished metal. As best indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the two card positioning projections 24, located above the friction wheels 30, are cut away as indicated at 38, so as to in effect form a card feeding slot adjacent the friction wheels 3h. As shown in Figure 2, the one edge of the deck, which is opposite the friction wheels 3i), is

held in a slightly elevated position by means of one or more cam-like elements 4t) formed integrally with the platform 16. These cams are so shaped and arranged` that they serve to shove the lowermost card of the deck v in between the friction wheels 30 and the rollers 36, so 4 that as the wheels 3@ are rotated, the lowerrnost card will be fed between the rollers and will be dispensed from the platform into the circumferentially extending card.

receiving channel 42 in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter. The entire bottom wall of the card receiving channel is roughened as shown at 43, so as to edge of the channel.

wheels 30 includes a pinion 44 which is secured to a drive shaft 46, as best shown in Figures l and 2. This drive shaft is carried by the rotatable platform and has 1 the one end thereof journaled in the bearing portion iii which is formed integrally with the gear housing 14, as:

clearly shown in Figure 2. The other end of the drive shaft 46 is journaled in a downwardly extending projection,

48 formed as an integral part of the rotatable platform 16. The shaft 46 slidably supports a pinion or gear Si) which is splined to the shaft, so that the two rotate in unison at all times. The gear Eil is arranged to selectively mesh with any one of several circular rows of gear teeth integrally formed on the top side of the bottom wall of the gear housing f4, as best shown in Figure l. For purposes of illustration, I have shown an arrangement in which five rows of these gear teeth 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 are provided. Upon rotation of the platform 16 and the associated ear titl, the drive shaft 46 will be caused to operate at a speed determined by the particular row or series of gear teeth with which it is arranged to mesh.

y gagement with vthe Vseries of teeth 52, the card feeding rollers 39 will be caused to operate at such a speed that six cards will be dealt per revolution of the platform 16. The lconstruction and arrangement of the parts is such 'that upon each subsequent revolution of the platform 16 six additional cards will be dealt out and will be dropped onto kthe previously dealt cards. rThus, if `there are six players and each player is to be dealt eleven cards, one would position the gear Sii over the series of gear teeth a and would then rotate the platform lio through eleven revolutions and Iby so doing would deal six hands of eleven cards each. lf there are to `be five players, ythe gear Si? is moved into meshing engagement with the circular row of gear yteeth 53, which lobviously has less teeth lthan the row 52, so that iive cards will be dealt for each revolution of the platform i6.

A gear shift handle 6g@ has been provided which serves a dual purpose in that it is also used for imparting rotation to the platform 16 during the process yof dealing out tthe cards. This handle is secured to a rod 62 which is slidably supported in bearing projections 6d and 66 which are formed integrally with the platform 1 6. The slide rod fis provided with a gear Ishifting segment or yoke 63 seated in an annular channel in the hub 5de integral with the gear 5d. The handle connected to `the rod 62 and the yoke 6d' shifts the gear 5t? from engagement with one series of gear teeth to another. As best shown in Figures l and 4, the gear shift handle ii is provided with a locking projection 7? which is adapted to releasably and selectively engageV within the slots 72 provided in the one side of `the opening 73 provided in the platform 16, so that yonce the lever or handle 6h is set for dealing vout a given number of hands, it will not inadvertently slip out of gear during the process of dealing. The handle 60 is shown in one of the card pockets in Figure l.

However, by moving the handle et) to the extreme left .i

position shown in Figure l, the handle 6ft is moved out of the card pocket.

By virtue of the above described construction and arrangement, any number of hands from two to six can be dealt out and -any number of cards can be dealt to each player. When ift is desired to thoroughly mix the cards in the deck, `one would set the lever 6i? to deal five or vsix hands and would deal out all of the cards and then return the cards to the pocket before dealing hands to the players. One can repeat this mixing process as many ltimes as desired. In picking 4up the cards during the mixing process, one would preferably pick up the piles of cards out of `order so as to further miX the cards. in dealing out cards for the purpose of mixing the cards, it is preferable to set the gear shift lever so as Ito deal out either more or less piles than there are players.

`Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the operation of the Wheel 39 and the roller 36 when cards 715, 76, 7S, 80 and `8?; are placed in the pocket adjacent the wheel 30. The dimensions of the cards with respect to the pocket are such that when the cards are initially placed in the pocket, the outer margin of the lowermost card 74 rests upon an arcuate portion of the wheel 3G. As the wheel 3@ rotates, the card 74 is frictionally `drawn by the wheel 30 toward the roller 36 where the card is nipped `by `the wheel and the roller 36 then drawn therebetween.

As most clearly seen in Figure 6, the card '76 which is adjacent the bottom card 7a abuts the roller 36 during the time that the card 74 i-s being drawn under the roller 36. it has been determined experimentally with conventional playing cards that lthe card 76 will not be drawn between the wheel 3d and the roller 36along with the card 74 provided that the diameter of the roller 36 is not more than 16 times the thickness of the playing card. This result applies when the roller 36 has a polished metal surface `and the wheel is covered with a rubber tirelike portion 3d.

When the full length of the card 74 has been dnawn between 'the wheel 3,01'and .roller 36,- the'card 76 will drop into contact with ythe Wheel 30 and follow the card 74 between the Wheel 30 and the roller 36.

By virtue of the construction shown, very few parts are required and the main parts, such as the main frame i@ and the platform 16, may be made at a very nominal cost, as they ycan lbe made of molded plastic. The parts can be quickly assembled, with l`the result that the labo; costs are also low. Furthermore, the principle of operation and the Kconstruction `of Kthe parts is such that ordinary wear on the gears will not throw the device out of adjustment.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it Will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination `thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a lcard dealing device, a stationary support having pocket means formed thereon for receiving cards, a platform rotatably mounted on said support, said pocket means having a ybase a portion of which is in the shape of a conical frustum diverging outwardly and downwardly, means for positioning la deck of cards on said platform, and variable speed ratio means for feeding cards from said deck into a predetermined number of piles in `said pocket means.

2. in a card dealing device, astationary support having pocket means formed thereon for receiving cards, a platform rotatably mounted on said support, said pocket means having a base a portion of which is in the shape of a conical frustum diverging outwardly and downwardly, means for positioning a deck of cards on said platform, and variable speed ratio means for feeding cards from said deck into a predetermined number of piles in said pocket means, said last named means comprising a stationary cam arranged to engage the one edge of the lowermost card on the deck anda card feeding means for frictionally engaging the bottom of said card at a point opposite said cam.

3. ln acard dealing. device, a stationary support having card receiving pocket' means formed thereon, a platform rotatably mounted on said support, said pocket means having a base a portion of which is in the shape of a conical frustum diverging outwardly and downwardly, means for positioning a deck of cards on said platform. and means for feeding cards from said decl; into predetermined piles on said stationary support, said last named means comprising a rst series of gear teeth carried by said support, a pinion rotatably mounted on said platform for engaging said gear teeth, and means operated by said pinion` for delivering cards from said platform onto said support in response to relative rotation between said platform andy said support.

4. In a card dealingl device, a stationary support having card receivingkpocket means formed thereon, a platform rotatably mountedon said support, said pocket means having a base a portion which is in the shape of a conical frustum diverging outwardly and downwardly, means for supporting a deck of cards on said platform, and variable speed ratio means for feeding cards from said deck into predetermined piles on said platform, said last named means comprising a plurality of series of stationary gears carried by said support, a pinion rotatably supported on said platform for selectively engaging the gears of one of said series, and means operated by said pinion for delivering cards from said platform onto said support in response to relative rotation between said platform-and said support.

5. in a card dealing device, a stationary support having card receiving pocket means formed thereon, a platform rotatably mounted on said support, said pocket means having a b'asea'portion of which is in the shape of a conical frustum diverging outwardly and downwardly, means for supporting a deck of cards on said platform, and variable speed ratio means for feeding cards from said deck into predetermined piles in the pocket means on said support, said iast named means comprising a plurality of series of stationary gears carried by said support, a pinion rotatably supported on said platform for selectively engaging the gears of one of said series, and means operated by said pinion for delivering cards from said platform onto said support in response to relative rotation between said platform and said support, said stationary support comprising a plastic element having said series of stationary gears formed integrally therewith in concentric rows.

6. In a card dealing device, a stationary support having card receiving pocket means formed thereon, a platform mounted on said support to rotate about a given axis, said pocket means having a base a portion of which is in the shape of a conical frustum diverging outwardly and downwardly, means for supporting a deck of cards on said platform, means for feeding cards from said deck. into predetermined piles in the pocket means on said support,v

said last named means comprising a plurality of series of stationary gear teeth carried by said support and disposed in concentric rows about said axis, a pinion rotatably supported on said platform, means operated by said pinion for delivering cards from said platform onto said support in response to relative rotation between said platform and said support, certain of said series of gear teeth having more teeth than other of said series, and means for selectively shifting said pinion into engagement with any one of said series of gear teeth so as to select the frequency at which cards are delivered from said platform onto said support.

7. ln a card dealing device, a plastic support having an annular ange and having a plurality of series of gear teeth provided thereon arranged in concentric circles, a platform carried by said support for rotation about the axis of said circles, said platform being mounted for rotation within said annular ange, an outwardly and downwardly directed ledge in the shape of a conical frustum surrounding said flange, means for supporting a deck of cards in a predetermined position on said platform above said gear teeth, card feeding means arranged to frictionally engage the lowermost card of said deck, a first shaft journaled on said platform, said card feeding means being keyed to said first shaft, a first pinion on said first shaft, a second shaft arranged substantially at right angles to said first named shaft, a second pinion carried by said second shaft and arranged in meshing engagement with said irst named pinion, and a third pinion splined to said second named shaft so as to be slidable thereon for selective engagement with one of said series of gear teeth, said card feeding means dealing the cards into piles upon said ledge.

8. In a card dealing device, a support having a plurality of circumferentially disposed series of gear teeth provided on one face thereof, said support including an annular channel-shaped portion surrounding the gear teeth, a part of the channel-shaped portion sloping downwardly and outwardly, a platform rotatably carried by said support and having a slot formed therein, means for supporting a deck of cards in a predetermined relationship relative to said platform, friction means arranged to frictionally engage the lowermost card of said deck, a first shaft journaled on said platform, means for transmitting power from said first shaft to said friction means, a rst pinion on said iirst shaft, a second shaft arranged substantially at right angles to said first named shaft, a second pinion carried by said second shaft arranged in meshing engagement with said first named pinion, a third pinion splined to said second named shaft so as to be slidable thereon for selective engagement with one of said series of gear teeth, a slide bar for shifting said third pinion on said second shaft, said slide bar being mounted beneath said platform and having a lever projecting upwardly through said slot formed in said platform, and means for releasably holding said lever in predetermined positions within said slot, said friction means dealing the cards into piles in the channel-shaped portion upon rotation of the platform.

9. ln a card dealing device, a plastic support having a plurality of circumferentially disposed series of gear teeth provided thereon, said support being provided with a marginal flange surrounding an outwardly and downwardly sloping card receiving surface, a platform rotatably carried by said support and having a slot formed therein, means for supporting a deck of cards in a predetermined relationship relative to said platform, friction means arranged to frictionally engage the lowermost card of said deck, a rst shaft journaled on said platform, said friction means being keyed to said first shaft, a first pinion on said first shaft, a second shaft arranged substantially at right angles to said rst named shaft, a second pinion carried by said second shaft arranged in meshing engagement with said first named pinion, a third pinion splined to said second named shaft so as to be slidable thereon for selective engagement with one of said series of gear teeth, gear shifting means including a slide bar for shifting said third pinion on said second named shaft, said slide bar being mounted beneath said platform and having a lever projecting upwardly through said slot in said platform, and a knob on the upper end of said lever for use in actuating said slide bar for gear shifting purposes and for imparting rotation to said platform so that as the platform is rotated the friction means deals the cards into piles deposited upon said card receiving surface.

l0. ln combination, a one-piece molded plastic support having a plurality of concentric rows of upwardly projecting gear teeth formed integrally therewith, said stationary support including an upwardly directed annular flange surrounding said gear teeth, a second annular flange arranged in spaced relation from the first mentioned ange, an inclined portion between the aunular flanges forming a receptacle, an annular platform mounted above the gear teeth and within the first ymentioned annular ange, means for supporting said platform for rotation about the central axis of said concentric f rows of gear teeth, card feeding means carried by said platform including a rotatably mounted power transmitting gear, and means for selectively shifting said gear into selective engagement with any one of said rows of gear teeth.

l1. In a card dealing device, a stationary support having a circumferentially disposed card receiving channel formed thereon, a portion of the card receiving channel being inclined outwardly and downwardly, a platform rotatably mounted on said support, means for supporting a deck of cards in a predetermined position on said platform, said last named means having a slot adjacent the bottom edge thereof through which cards may be ejected from said platform into said channel, variable speed ratio means for feeding cards from said deck into predetermined piles in said channel, and cam means on said platform opposite said'slot for camming the lowermost card on said deck into said slot, said means for feeding the cards from said platform comprising friction rollers for frictionally engaging the bottom surface of each card as .it enters said slot to feed the cards in piles in the card receiving channel.

l2. ln a card dealing device, a stationary support having gear teeth formed integrally therewith on one face thereof, said stationary support including an upwardly directed annular flange surrounding said gear teeth, an annular platform mounted above the gear teeth and within the annular flange, means for rotatably mounting said platform on said stationary support, means for positioning a deck of cards on said platform, and means operable in response to relative rotation between said support and said platform for feeding cards from said deck into a predetermined num-ber of piles, said last named means comprising a power transmitting gear rotatably supported on said rotatably mounted platform and arranged in driving engagement with said gear teeth, and an annular channel integral with the stationary support and surrounding tl e annular llange, a portion of thc channel sloping outwardly and downwardly from said. annular channel.

13. ln a card 'sealing device, a main supporting morn-- ber, a platform member rotatably mounted on said main supporting member, one of said members having a emily closed by the other of said members so as to form a housing, nies for supporting e deck of cards on one of said members, means fo; feed. into predetermined piles, said last named means comprising gear teeth formed on one face of one f said n embers, a pinion rotatably supported on the oth r of said menibers in meshing engagement with said ge r teeth, said pinion and said gear teeth being mounted within s( housing, means operated by said pinion for del cards from said deck onto said piles in responso to ela rotation between said supporting member and said form and annular channel having a portion in the ape of n conical frustum integral with 'the main suppe1 ing member into which the piles are deposited.

ln a card dealing device, a main supporting member having an iular channel having a base a portion of which in lne shape of a coni-:al frfstum diverging outwardly ad downwardly, a platform member rotatably mounted on said supporting member, said members cooperating to form housing, means for supporting a deck of cards on one of said members, and means for feedi'l g cards from said deck into predetermined piles deposited in said channel, said last named means comprising gear teeth a. .y formed on the face of one of said niet bers l located within said housing, a pinion rotatably supported ou the other said members for engaging said gear teeth, and means operated by said pinion for delivering cards from said deck onto said piles in response to relative rotation of rid menx ers.

l5. In a card dealing device, a support surrounded by an annular channel having a portion in the shape of a conical frustuin, a platform, means for mounting said platform for rotation relative to said support, means for positioning a deck of cards on said platform, and variable speed ratio means for feeding cards from said deck into predetermined piles deposited in said channel, said last named means comprising a plurality of gear teeth carried by said support, a pinion rotatably supported on said platform, and means operated by said pinion for frictionally engaging the lowermost card on said deck and for feeding said card onto one of said piles in response to relative rotation between said platform and said support.

i6. In a card dealing device, a stationary support 'having a hollow cavity surrounded by a card receiving annular channel having a portion in the shape of a conical frustum, a platform rotatably mounted within the hollow .g cards from said decl;

cavity in said support, said platform forming a cover for the hollow cavity, means for supporting a deck of cards in a predetermined position on said platform, said last named means having a slot adjacent a bottom edge thereof through which cards may be ejected into piles deposited in said channel, cam means on said platform opposite said slot for camming the lowermost card of said deck into said slot, and card dealing means for frictionally engaging the bottom surface of cards as they enter said slot.

l0 17. In combination, a support surrounded by a pair 15 between said anges, said card feeding means including a drive element arranged to ride on the top surface of said support and yto be driven thereby in response to relative rotation between said support and said platform, and means for adjusting the distance between said axis and 29 said driverelement so as to vary the rate at which cards are fed bysaid card feeding means, said means comprising a slide rod carriedy by said platform adapted to engage said driveelement formovement in a radial direction on the support, and retaining means on said platform for releasably securing said slide rod in predetermined positions.

18. In av card dealing device, a stationary support having card receiving pocket means formed thereon, a platform mounted on said support to rotate about a given axis, means for supporting a deck of cards on said platform, means for feeding cards from said deck into predetermined piles in the pocket means in said support, said last mentioned means including a pair of rollers located to one side'ofV the deck of cards the rollers being located one above the other, the lower roller of the pair having a comparatively large diameter a portion of which projects above the lower level of the deck of cards and projects under themargin of the lowermost card, the upper roller being much smaller than the `lower roller so that the upper roller, cooperating with the lower roller, engages the margin of the'lowermost card, the upper roller being sufficiently small that the next to the lowest card, which card is engaged by the upper roller, is held thereby against 45 withdrawal until the lowermost 4card has been fed out by the rollers.

References Cited in the le of this` patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 

